Viili Yogurt Starter | Make Homemade Yogurt with a Viili Culture

 
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Make yogurt with our Viili yogurt starter.  Viili contains live active bacteria and cultures at room temperature (70-78 degrees).  Culture Viili yogurt right on the counter--no yogurt maker required! One packet of Viili can be used to make unlimited amounts of homemade yogurt as it can be serial cultured--a small amount from the current batch is then reserved to inoculate the next batch. With care, this Viili yogurt culture can be used to make homemade yogurt indefinitely. No more having to continually buy yogurt starter--save money making yogurt at home!


Viili Yogurt Starter

Originating in Finland, Viili is a thicker yogurt which thrives on cream. It is also known as Viila and is similar to other yogurts such as Pitkapiima, Viilipiima, langil, taette, tatmjolk, langmjolk and skyr.  Perfect for use in parfaits or in place of sour cream in recipes. Of all of our room-temperature (mesophilic) yogurt cultures, Viili has the thickest consistency (viscous, almost jelly-like) and the most mild taste making it our most popular yogurt culture particularly among customers switching their family off commercial yogurt. Please note, this is a non-ropey variety of Viili.  Our Viili yogurt does not have a ropey texture but rather a more gelatinous, jelly-like texture.

 

Click here to compare our yogurt cultures for taste, consistency and yogurt making method.

 Viili contains the following active lactic acid bacteria: Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris.


How to Make Viili Yogurt

As a mesophilic culture, this Viili yogurt cultures at room temperature. To make a batch of homemade yogurt, the Viili starter is simply added to milk, stirred and then allowed to culture on the counter before being placed in the refrigerator. A small amount of the current batch of homemade yogurt is then used to make the next batch and so on.

Customers wishing to use raw milk to make homemade yogurt will need to take additional steps to ensure a pure starter is maintained. Additional instructions concerning the use of raw milk will accompany each order of Viili.

 

Instructions for making Viili yogurt can be found here and will be included with your order.


Using alternative milks to make Viili

Viili starter may be used with alternative milks (soy, coconut, etc.) but is unlikely to reculture beyond the first few generations. Therefore we strongly recommend keeping a back-up dairy-based culture on hand when using alternative milks. Viili yogurt can be made with goat milk although the resulting yogurt may be significantly less thick than yogurt made with whole cow milk.  We do not recommend using UHT (aka ultra-pasteurized) milk when working with any yogurt culture as the lack of living bacteria in UHT milk makes it difficult for the yogurt cultures to perpetuate properly.


Viili Shipping Information

Viili yogurt starter is shipped in a barrier sealed packet as a dehydrated yogurt culture in a dairy carrier. Please keep it in a cool dry place until you are ready to make your first batch of homemade yogurt. We ship enough dried yogurt culture to make two batches of yogurt to use as a mother culture for making larger batches of homemade yogurt. We recommend that you reserve half of the culture in a safe place to use as a back-up.

 

This item is available for international shipping.

Each Packet of Viili Yogurt Starter Contains: .16 oz. (4.5 grams) yogurt starter in a dehydrated format.

  • Viili Ingredients: Organic milk, live active cultures 
  • Lactic Acid Bacteria: Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris.

 

Detailed culturing instructions will be included with your order and can also be found here:  Viili Yogurt Instructions

 

Click here to view our Yogurt Starter FAQ's


Click here to view additional information on making homemade yogurt


Click here for ideas on how to use Viili Yogurt in recipes

 

Click here for more general information on Viili Yogurt.

 

Value Package
Viili Yogurt Starter + Cultured Buttermilk Starter
Buy Buttermilk Starter and get Viili Yogurt Starter at an additional 20% off our everyday low price.
Total Price: $23.98
Price for the Bundle: $21.58
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This Item: Viili Yogurt Starter
Buttermilk Starter
Customer Reviews
Overall:
Name:
Laura L
Date:
07/02/2010
Review:
I didn't do very well with this culture. I was trying to hurry and wasn't able to culture the starter at the right temperature. I didn't end up making any yogurt with it, but that was my fault so I can't really say how well it works. I got my order promptly though as always and everything was just as they stated in the description with very specific directions.
Rating:
Name:
Danielle
Date:
05/25/2010
Review:
I love my Viili Yogurt! I make it with raw goat milk and it is a real treat! I am so excited to be able to make yogurt at home; and it's so easy! I've made yogurt before that had to be kept warm and it was just a hassle. I really like the Viili because it cultures at room temperature. It takes a little practice to figure out how long to let it culture to get the perfect consistency, but it's really not difficult. I was also very pleased to find a yogurt starter that did not contain S. thermophilis since that strain is known to cause immune problems in some people. I highly recommend Viili Yogurt Starter!
Rating:
Name:
Julie
Date:
05/20/2010
Review:
This product has great flavor and is easy to use. It has not come out quite as thick for me as I expected, but that may just by my technique.
Rating:
Name:
Cheryl
Date:
05/19/2010
Review:
I just tried the viili culture and though my results are similar to Leah's and Jacqueline's, the flavor is wonderful and I will keep trying. I use raw milk, so have to do the extra step, using Trader Joe's organic non-homogenized milk for that. I've been setting it on top of my dehydrator in the laundry room with the door closed, but it still takes at least 24 hours, so I think I'll try the oven light method next time. Very happy with the flavor, looking forward to improving the texture.
Rating:
Name:
Lisa
Date:
05/19/2010
Review:
This is a very mild culture. Easy to make. I had a little trouble with my kitchen being too warm. Customer Service is incredibly helpful.
Rating:
Name:
Jenn
Date:
05/13/2010
Review:
I am still trying to get a thick yogurt consistency from my viili culture. We are currently enjoying it as "yogurt soup" or I have been using it as a sour milk replacement. However despite this, the taste is excellent!
Rating:
Name:
Rebecca
Date:
05/11/2010
Review:
I love the ease of culturing at room temp! I have had the same experience with the culture as other reviewers: in a cooler house like mine, it can take longer to set and it can separate easily. However, I intend to try it with cream to see if it works better. I did strain my last batch and now use the whey for soaking flour, and the yogurt as a substitute for sour cream in recipes, and that works wonderfully.
Rating:
Name:
Valerie
Date:
05/08/2010
Review:
We love this yogurt. We use mostly raw cream to make a thick delicious yogurt! I put the yogurt in the oven with the oven light on (the door cracked a bit) to culture it. Works great! The cost of the culture has been paid for many times over!
Rating:
Name:
Leah
Date:
05/07/2010
Review:
overall i am fairly happy with this culture. upon starting the process, it seemed to take a few times of making the yogurt to produce a batch strong enough to culture an entire quart. my house is fairly cool 60-65 max, so this could have something to do with the fact that my yogurt was taking upwards of 24 hours to set. the flavor is good, and it is creamy and fairly thick but mine doesn't have the consistency others describe, once you break the cream on top, underneath it is somewhat grainy and separates quickly. i use non-homogenized fresh whole milk but am interested to try adding cream--maybe it would produce a thicker and creamier result. considering all of this, i am still pleased and it's infinitely better than buying organic for $5/quart!
Rating:
Name:
Linda Jo
Date:
05/05/2010
Review:
I am delighted to be able to make yogurt on my counter top. The flavor is delicious and the texture is creamy. It's great!
Rating:
Name:
Misty
Date:
05/04/2010
Review:
I love this culture. I am making it with half and half or whole milk. It comes out rich and creamy. Every morning I have it with frozen berries for a healthy breakfast. My favorite thing about this culture is how easy it is.
Rating:
Name:
Angela
Date:
05/03/2010
Review:
Our family tried viili and filmjolk because of their mild flavors. We like viili better (filmjolk was a bit cheesy tasting). The villi is great with a little sweetener and vanilla- we love to eat it with granola. The kids devour it.
Rating:
Name:
Crystal
Date:
05/01/2010
Review:
This was a very easy yogurt to make and was thick and delicious!
Rating:
Name:
Jacqueline
Date:
04/30/2010
Review:
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make the yogurt even with the extra step required for raw milk. My kids aren't huge fans yet. The oldest is used to the grocery store brand and villi raw milk yogurt is decidedly thinner. I'm going to keep it up though and hope that eventually they come around.
Rating:
Name:
Jayna
Date:
04/29/2010
Review:
Making this yogurt is so easy to make! I made it with goats milk and it was still pretty thick- about as thick as the yogurt I've made @ home with cows milk which says a LOT. I can't imagine using cows milk with this starter- it would seriously be like grocery store yogurt I'm sure.
Rating:
Name:
Nancy
Date:
04/29/2010
Review:
I purchased the villi starter culture because I wanted to make yogurt using raw milk and not have to heat it. My first batch of starter separated into curds and whey because I didn't culture it in a warm enough place. I put the second batch in the oven with the light on and it came out perfectly. This raw milk villi yogurt is my 1 year old granddaughter's favorite food! I am very satisfied with my purchase from Cultures for Health and won't hesitate to order again.
Rating:
Name:
Suzi
Date:
04/28/2010
Review:
I purchased the Viili yogurt starter and it is wonderful. It is almost effortless making the countertop yogurts, and they taste so good. You need to use whole milk to make it thick enough. The customer service is excellent at Cultures for Health and I would never buy elsewhere. They answer all of your questions very quickly.
Rating:
Name:
Betsy
Date:
04/28/2010
Review:
I love this yogurt. Very simple to make, especially no heat needed, just leave it on the counter. Tastes delicious!
Rating:
Name:
Jane
Date:
04/17/2010
Review:
Very easy to use...especially with raw milk. Also, helpful instructions...everything I needed to know.
Rating:
Name:
April
Date:
04/12/2010
Review:
I love this yogurt! As with many others here I had gotten frustrated with traditional yogurt making -- it's not that hard but it was just hard enough to figure out a way to keep it warm enough for long enough that I just plain realistically was not going to make my own yogurt on a regular basis, with little people keeping busy. However, I wanted healthier cheaper yogurt for those little people ... and Viili works perfectly! I'm still amazed at how quick and E-A-S-Y it is!!! Totally doable for even the busiest moms. I'm also trying Piima and Filmjolk. If you add cream to any of them, even Piima, you'll get a pretty thick yogurt, but Viili is the thickest. Also definitely the mildest.

Note to people talking about cold kitchens -- same problem here, setting the jars on a basic cheap heating pad set on the lowest setting seems to do the trick just fine.
Rating:
Name:
Stevie
Date:
04/07/2010
Review:
I am making it with raw milk and am not fond of the extra step....but it is worth it, as I do love the taste. It is so mild and with just a couple drops of vanilla flavored stevia it is awesome on fruit, especially berries. With blueberries it is wonderful as a topping for waffles! Also great a a drink with the stevia and a quick blend with an immersion blender.
Rating:
Name:
Cara
Date:
04/02/2010
Review:
Rarely do I write reviews for anything--even if I'm offered a coupon. However, I've been so blessed by this little yogurt culture that I've shared the idea with all of my friends and with my homeopath. The villi cultures beautifully right around 70 degrees--which is just about the temperature of the closed area below my sink. I've been following the instructions for raw milk. I've used both raw cow's milk and raw goat's milk. Both produce a delicious (not too sour), creamy, fairly smooth yogurt. The goat's milk yogurt is much thinner, but still a decent yogurt texture. I love this yogurt! Thank you so much.
Rating:
Name:
Whitney Creath
Date:
04/01/2010
Review:
I found this to be really easy to make.
Rating:
Name:
Teresa
Date:
03/25/2010
Review:
The Viili starter was my first venture into making yogurt. We have dairy goats and wanted to make yogurt from raw milk. The Viili starter works wonderfully with the raw milk, but be sure to follow the instructions on preserving the integrity of your starter using pasteurized milk.

The yogurt we make turns out creamy and not overly tart. I love that it cultures at room temperatures - no special equipment required. I make it in a quart Mason jar and cover with a paper coffee filter to culture. The yogurt is delicious alone, or with fruit, granola or in any recipe that calls for yogurt. You can also mix this yogurt into smoothies. The yogurt has a wonderful, smooth texture - not grainy.

This culture is great for a first timer, or an experienced person.
Rating:
Name:
Alison
Date:
03/25/2010
Review:
This was the first yogurt culture that I purchased. I was looking for a way to make raw milk yogurt without having to use a dehydrator or oven and this worked really well. I also recommend using cream and milk to make a thick yogurt.
Rating:
Name:
Nikki
Date:
02/22/2010
Review:
This villi culture is easy and great. The mild taste lends it to MANY recipes!!! We use raw milk and sit it on the counter near a lamp and VOILA we have Great Yogurt!
Rating:
Name:
Kathleen
Date:
01/28/2010
Review:
My family and I love the
villi yogurt start! It is a mindless way to have a yummy yogurt without all the other stuff that is in the store varieties! I strain it for a more greek like texture, use it in smoothies, and substitute it for sour cream. I love it plain with a few kalamata olives for a yummy snack! This way of making yogurt cuts the expense almost in half. Thanks!
Rating:
Name:
Christina
Date:
01/20/2010
Review:
love this yogurt. My kids and grandkids agree. We use only great quality raw milk and love the countertop method. Crazy easy!
Rating:
Name:
Kelli
Date:
01/08/2010
Review:
We really enjoy the flavor of this yogurt. I have not had success in getting it thick enough yet but it is 0 degrees F outside and my kitchen is cold.
Rating:
Name:
Tamara
Date:
01/05/2010
Review:
I love the culture. Since my house is drafty, I had to find a place with a constant temperature, but now we are good to go. I can make raw milk yogurt for my family and I just love the taste. Easy to make and works exactly like the instructions state. Great!
Rating:
Name:
Peter Neofotis
Date:
01/02/2010
Review:
Very nice customer service. I think with the Viili the first time or two you have to keep it in a warm place (heating pad on low) but then it gets going and is best to just keep at room temp... that's how mine works and it is so nice and pleasant. I also make kefir and this taste so much better. Julie is terrific in terms of customer service.
Rating:
Name:
Cara in Seattle
Date:
12/04/2009
Review:
After many failed attempts at making yogurt in my crockpot, I broke down and purchased the Villi starter. I am so pleased that I did.

I love that I can make it at room temperature (we keep our house between 62 - 68 degrees.) It's as easy as throwing the culture into milk and then letting it sit for a day.

I use whole milk and the yogurt turns out creamy and fairly thick.
Rating:
Name:
Jeannette
Date:
11/24/2009
Review:
My first purchase was viili starter because I like the idea of being able to make yogurt without the use of a yogurt maker. Using raw milk produced a creamy, mild flavored yogurt that is absolutely delicious! I'm very impressed - thank you.
Rating:
Name:
Julie
Date:
11/23/2009
Review:
I find making the yogurt difficult. I tried twice and couldn't get it right. I think my cold NH kitchen has something to do with it. I'm sure the culture is fine, my kitchen not so fine.
Rating:
Name:
Ann
Date:
11/06/2009
Review:
I really like that I can make this on the counter without having to have a special yogurt maker. And, my children love it. It has been a great way to use some of our home grown goat milk.
Rating:
Name:
Judy
Date:
10/27/2009
Review:
My husband and daughter especially love this Viili yogurt. It has a mild taste. They like their yogurt sweet, so with the mild taste of the Viili yogurt I only need to add a tiny amount of honey to satisfy their sweet desires. Also, a little vanilla added is also great. So they are happy, and I'm happy because they aren't getting a ton of sugar and other additives. Note that when honey is added the texture does become a little more fluid, however no one seem to mind that at all.
Rating:
Name:
Rusty
Date:
10/16/2009
Review:
Viili ends up nice and sweet. I have had trouble getting the consistency described on this site, but it is relatively thick and tastes great. Due to the issue I had, Cultures for Health sent me other starters to try and satisfy me. I am VERY pleased with customer service.
Rating:
Name:
Teresa
Date:
10/13/2009
Review:
The villi culture worked very well. I used it many times over and it worked well each time.
Rating:
Name:
Lori
Date:
10/10/2009
Review:
I bought the viili for ease of preparation. It is somewhat thick and works well in smoothies. It gets a bit runny when eating and adding honey or fruit. I love knowing I'm eating healthy yogurt!
Rating:
Name:
Ken Ebacher in Iraq
Date:
10/10/2009
Review:
I purchased this culture kit with no foreknowledge that it wouldn't work with UHT pasteurized milk (the only kid of cow's milk here on this base unfortunately). Still I am very interested in getting more culture starter packets when I get back to the USA finally. Julie, Cultures for Health Customer Service, you've been most gracious, helpful and patient with all of my questions and concerns! I look for forward to my future purchases when I can get the type of milk which will finally work with these cultures. I'll keep you all posted! God bless you all!
Rating:
Name:
Don
Date:
08/15/2009
Review:
I currently am making viili and filmjolk. Each is slightly different. Both are thick. My Filmjolk separates into curds and whey more quickly than the viili, but that may be from culturing one batch too long at a cool temp plus we were away for 7 days. Both are easy to make. The temp in my house is +or- 70F. I started both cultures late November 08. The cultures have kept their individual character. Very satisfied with both and the company. You cannot go wrong with either. Choose both.
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